Briareum violaceum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)

Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, Zootaxa 5236 (1), pp. 1-124 : 20

Briareum violaceum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)

Clavularia violacea Quoy & Gaimard, 1833: 262 , pl. 21 figs 13–16 ( Solomon Islands).

Pachyclavularia erecta Roule, 1908: 165 , pl. 6 figs 4–5 ( Ambon).

Pachyclavularia violacea (new comb.) Gohar 1940: 20.

Briareum violacea (sic) (new comb.) Benayahu 2002: 20 (Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan).

Briareum violaceum Samimi-Namin & van Ofwegen 2016: 27 , fig. 19– 25, 26E –F ( Indonesia, Palau, Philippines).

Opinion: This species does occur in the region.

Justification: This Indian record appears to be valid: Geetha et al. 2018: 2392, figs 4–5 (N. Andaman).

Literature analysis: This species, originally placed in the genus Clavularia , has been recently well described by Samimi-Namin & van Ofwegen (2016). The sole record for its occurrence in the region is that of Geetha et al. (2018). In their Figure 4, the authors provide numerous underwater colony images of the species, but those in images P & Q are very dark brown, a colour not expected for this species, and may represent another taxon. The image in Fig. 4H, however, is clearly of another genus, possibly Clavularia , as it shows a colony with broad, heavily pinnated tentacles.